I’ve Been There: Learning to Put the Oxygen Mask On

I remember it like yesterday, I was supposed to go and present to a group of educators and support workers in Toowoomba on Staff Mental Health and Well -Being and I just couldn’t. I literally had no energy left and was burnt out. So I made the phone call to my manager at the time (who was in Adelaide) and let them know that I couldn’t do it. They were great and organised for someone from Adelaide to fly up and do the conference for me. 

Behind the Scenes

Fortunately, I managed to take the rental car back and then fell in to bed. For the next week, I literally could not get out of bed. When I  got up, I was so dizzy that I had to lay back down to feel better. I felt like I was on the hamster wheel of life, where I was trying to be the best person I could be (just like when I was a professional tennis player). Yes, it looked great on the outside, however behind the scenes it was a very different story. 

The Reality Check

The reality of my life was that I had an endless to-do list that never seemed to shorten, so therefore had no time to look after my own needs and well-being. I was constantly putting other people’s needs before my own as I really didn’t realise it was OK to have them and therefore didn’t know what mine were. I also had an exhausting cycle of self-doubt as I kept hearing messages about how I was a good athlete, however that was different to being a professional. Subsequently, I was going to course after course and looking for answers everywhere except within myself. 

The Wake-Up Call

I was not moving my body, drinking a few energy drinks a day to keep up with the external demands of my career amd life, and struggling to get enough sleep or eating very well. As I was lying there in bed, I started to realise how much I needed to change, which would then impact the outside world. I knew I needed to start taking better care of myself and look more wholistically at my life as my career was not the only thing that required my attention. I needed to start to become more familiar with my own essential needs and start to set better boundaries as work was not my whole life. 

Discovering a New Path

I was lucky enough to find some supportive people who supported me to start to make conscious changes. And since then I have continued to untangle from draining habits (i.e. perfectionism, self-criticism and overcommitment) and take small, achievable actions towards living in alignment with my mind and heart and relearning to trust myself. 

A Different Kind of Strength

Looking back now, that week in bed was both a low point and a turning point. While it felt like failure at the time, it was actually my body, heart and mind finally demanding the attention they deserved. Today, when I see others pushing themselves to breaking point, I recognise that familiar drive for perfection, that belief that working harder is the only answer. But I also know now that true strength isn’t about pushing through at any cost – it’s about listening to yourself, honouring your limits, and understanding that taking care of yourself isn’t selfish, it’s essential. Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simply stop, breathe, and give ourselves permission to put our own oxygen mask on first

Ready to Write Your Own Next Chapter?

Did this resonate with you? Is it time to focus on your own needs and on your own whole-hearted vision? Feel free to share what resonated with you below. Also – you can connect with me here or book a coaching or mentoring chat here.

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